Thursday, June 22, 2017

Titles in Matthew

"In one stroke, Jesus erases titles (Matt. 23:8-10). Tagging each other with titles has no place in the upside-down kingdom where everyone stands on equal ground" (226).

"Titles are foreignto the body of Christ. Terms like Doctor and Reverend perpetuate status differences unbefitting the spirit of Christ." Titles pay tribute to position, degree and status rather than to personhood. Members of flat kingdoms call each other, as the sign of highest personal respect, by our first names" (239, emphasis mine)

"We call each other by our first name, for we have one Master and one Lord, Jesus Christ" (256).

BUT consider titles of Jesus, which clue us in to the "Who is Jesus?" question. Check out this chart and note re: each title: